Lead Dental Assistant

Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Eastern Oklahoma - Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System
Total Rewards - Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs mouth mirror inspections and gathers diagnostic information
• Charts existing restorations conditions and selects shades for prostheses
• Places/removes rubber dams matrix bands and retraction cords
• Places/removes temporary restorations and crowns/bridges; cleans tooth preparations
• Fabricates adjusts and cements temporary crowns
• Removes permanent cement from supragingival surfaces
• Assists with vitality testing applies topical anesthetic and manages surgical dressings/sutures
• Monitors nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia and patient vital signs during/invasive and recovery periods
• Performs coronal polishing of teeth and removes/polishes hard accretions from removable prostheses
• Sets up/cleans operatory and dental units for efficient turnover
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of dental instruments materials and procedures for restorative surgical endodontic and periodontal care
• Assists in general and specialized dental procedures (oral surgery endodontics periodontics prosthodontics implants) using four-handed techniques
• Passes instruments safely and efficiently; keeps field clear and retracts tissues effectively
• Prepares dental medicaments impression materials and follows infection control protocols for all procedures
• Maintains both routine and specialty dental equipment per manufacturers instructions and dental service standards
• Takes impressions for diagnostic casts and prosthetic fabrication
• Provides patient-specific preventative education and oral hygiene instruction; relays patient concerns to the dentist
• Demonstrates advanced imaging proficiency (cone beam cephalometric panoramic TMJ): identifies dental anatomy exposes images captures diagnostic images using safety techniques modifies settings as needed and minimizes retakes
• Completes imaging within required timeframes; ensures infection control in operatory preparation imaging and sterilization of oral appliances/instruments according to SOPs
• Collaborates with SPS to ensure instrument availability and prevent clinical delays
• Assists in filling schedule gaps due to cancellations/no-shows
• Initiates computerized progress notes; assists dentist in charting findings/treatment plans
• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA and computer security regulations
• Adapts care based on patient age and ability; provides clear instructions; participates in patient identification/time outs
• Monitors patient condition throughout treatment for signs of distress
• Completes required annual and ongoing employee education and maintains DANB certification
• Pours impressions prepares study models makes final denture trays bite rims and fabricates athletic mouth guards/bleaching trays
• Performs other dental laboratory and administrative tasks as needed

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: To qualify for appointment to this position all applicants must possess the following:

Citizenship

• Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3g this part.)

• (1) Experience:
  Six months experience that demonstrates the applicants ability to perform the work or provides familiarity with the work. OR
• (2) Education:
  Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Associations Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• (3) Experience/Education Combination:
  Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75. Essentially they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field.
  1. Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence
     • Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board Inc. OR
     • Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry. OR
     • Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).
  2. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment.
  3. Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.
  4. Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB): The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants. DANB certification is not required but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level and is required for all positions above the full performance level.

• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

• Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants.
• Skill in coordinating clinical workflow and assignments.
• Ability to assist in dental program development outcome management and strategic planning.
• Skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor.
• Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants.